Paris Baguette Opening First Houston Location, Plans To Develop More Bakery Cafés in Texas

Paris Baguette, the 4,000 plus-unit-strong global franchise of bakery cafés, is opening its first Houston area location, an area in which the brand sees major growth potential as it expands across the state and country.

The new bakery café at 1400 Blalock Road in Spring Branch will add 15-20 jobs to the area. As many as a dozen more area locations are possible in the region. The brand currently has 90 locations in the United States, but plans to open as many as 1,000 new units in the country before 2030. Texas is a key part of that strategy.

Specializing in freshly-made pastries, croissants, breads, sandwiches, cakes and coffee, the brand developed an international presence with its focus on quality and creating a friendly neighborhood atmosphere.

“We’re extremely glad to be opening in Houston, and we know we’re just getting started here,” said Mark Mele, Paris Baguette’s chief development officer. “We have big plans for the area and can’t wait for people to experience what we have to offer.”

A Big Houston Franchise Growth Opportunity

The fourth-largest metro area in the United States, Houston is home to 2.3 million people, but the entire metro area totaled 7,154,478 in 2020, a 1.3% increase over the previous year. The metro area ranked third in overall population growth in the United States behind Dallas and Phoenix. Since 2010, the population has increased about 20.8%, adding more than 1.23 million people.

That growth represents a huge opportunity for franchises, especially at a time when a major gap has appeared in this bakery café consumer segment. Competition from other bakery café concepts is dwindling as other brands begin to cook off-site and develop a scattershot approach to their menu. With a relentless focus on quality, Paris Baguette puts its bakery skills first. It bakes croissants, breads, cakes and other assorted pastries on-site at each of its locations. 

“Our competitors are de-emphasizing traditional baked goods, which is a big opportunity for us,”  said Mele. “By staying true to who we are, we’re bringing back bakeries that bake items fresh in each store on a daily basis. Every day we’re making bread, croissants, baguettes, pastries and cakes. We also prepare sandwiches and salads in the store, but we’re committed to staking our claim as the top neighborhood bakery. No one matches the quality we provide.”

Another factor that makes Paris Baguette look like a smart investment: Like the rest of the country, local mom-and-pop bakery cafés in Houston are disappearing. Paris Baguette is not only a place to sit and have a sandwich with a friend, the local bakery also sets the highest standard for birthday and celebration cakes to mark life’s important moments. Paris Baguette is filling this gap in the marketplace by serving made-on-site products in a relaxed, welcoming environment, not unlike a Parisian cafe. 

“Grocery store birthday cakes simply are not the same as a cake made with dedication and love at Paris Baguette,” said Darren Tipton, the brand’s CEO. “Paris Baguette has created a reputation for providing that level of care around the world. And we’re excited to bring it to Houston.” 

A Franchise as Big as Texas

Paris Baguette currently has two locations in Texas in the Dallas area located in Lewisville and Carrollton, but the brand seeks potentially dozens of franchise partners to grow across the state. 

“The interest in Paris Baguette has been strong all over Texas, which is extremely encouraging to us. The construction-friendly climate, large population and lack of competition in the space make the Lone Star State perfect for us,” said Mele. “Interest is spiking not just in Houston, but areas like Dallas/Ft. Worth and Austin.”

Again, the opportunity is large. Dallas added the most people to its metro area last year in the United States, while Austin ranked the fastest-growing metro area in the United States, according to U.S. Census data.

“In Texas alone, we can open hundreds of stores,” Mele said. “Houston can have at least a dozen units. We think the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex has the ability to support even more than that. And because the metro area is so geographically large, each unit can be situated far enough apart from each other that there’s plenty of room for everyone.”

Each Paris Baguette location creates up to 20 skilled jobs and trains employees in their craft, whether from baking to cake-making to pouring the perfect cup of coffee. Often, Paris Baguette’s workers become a local attraction to the stores, dazzling customers with their skill. 

Passionate Investors Who Like Dough 

As a global bakery café franchise powerhouse, Paris Baguette is still interested in the local touch. The brand wants to work with franchisees who are both as passionate about the bakery café product and experience as they are about running a profitable business. The two go hand in hand, said Mele.

“The ideal candidate has a strong business background and might have been an entrepreneur themselves,” said Mele. “Even better candidates have experience within the restaurant management business.”

But Mele said this is not a passive income. Paris Baguette ownership is best suited to hands-on owners, ready to guide the store’s team. 

The total investment to franchise with Paris Baguette ranges from $378,270 to $1,638,554, including a $50,000 franchise fee. Paris Baguette requires franchisees to have $500,000 in liquid assets and $1,500,000 in net worth. 

Paris Baguette will work with single unit operators, as well as multi-unit franchisees who can quickly build out a market, raise brand awareness to bring a neighborhood spirit to the brand.

Mele said that the store models offer a small footprint. Additionally, in addition to standalone stores, the concept can also operate in nontraditional locations like malls, university campuses and transportation hubs. 

For more information, please visit: https://parisbaguettefamily.com/.